Kacie Dalton

I listened—mesmerized—to the soaring piano of my first completed song at nineteen years old. The melody I felt compelled to give to a Charlotte Bronte poem begging to be sung was in the skillful hands of a relative for arrangement. The trickle of an inescapable passion was welling up in me—and went on to overflow to one I never dreamed of and explainable only as God-given.

It began with writing Contemporary Christian songs when I was twelve, a hobby that passed after a few years. Yet after completing the tune for the Charlotte Bronte poem years later, I decided to try setting a poem of my own to music and was again thrilled at the sound of the outcome. Soon enough, my own life experiences, at times far more painful and at others far more beautiful than I ever expected, afforded more than enough material for song after song, revealing an inescapable passion.

Each of my songs is a poetic work of art. With a degree in Creative Writing from a Christian university, I have gained a mastery of the English language that never fails to serve in the constant crafting of lyrics. In addition, a deep love for the beauty and power of music and years of active listening guide my creativity in what listeners want as I craft the melodies. When critiqued by professionals, my songs are constantly described in terms such as “rich with imagery” and “very poetic.” My listeners don’t just hear music; they see the images and feel the emotions as the lyrics paint pictures for their minds and the melody drives the emotions home. From bringing tears to the eyes of one fan every time “Let the Sky Weep” is heard to deeply encouraging another listener with the words of “Never Alone,” my songs go out of my hands into demo form and straight to the hearts of my listeners.

I have found that the songs that resonate most with my listeners—and the ones that stick in their heads—are the ones that I felt most personally. My creativity knows no limits and no home and no curfew—no experiences are out of reach, songs can well up when I am cleaning the house or about to drift off to sleep, and my best ideas seem to appear when the rest of the visible world is sleeping.

Over the last few years I have amassed a collection of songs in several genres: Modern Hymns, Southern Gospel, Country, Folk, and Classical Pop. Such a range of styles can seem at first like the result of lack of discipline—yet the range is actually the result of true versatility and a love of listening to and studying each style. I cannot limit myself to just one, as personal experiences lend themselves to differing styles for the sake of power and credibility.

With ten demos recorded and dozens more waiting to be captured for others to hear, the well-spring has far from dwindled. Just when the thought of running out of ideas occurs to me, I suddenly have even more than I can easily keep track of. And so I continue, feeling as if I am hoarding a treasure from the rest of the world each time I sing through a new song. My highest desire is for the voices of great artists to do the beauty justice. Yet I write on, for I must. The overflowing well compels me.